Closing the Loop with Circularity: Zero Waste to Landfill

For most materials, the end of life is the end of the road. Final destination? Landfill.

But with circularity — the practice of keeping resources in use for as long as possible — that paradigm shifts. This vision that all materials are valuable resources can unlock new opportunities for decarbonization, economic sustainability and business innovation. 

Recycling is a key lever in a circular system, bringing resources back into use by transforming yesterday’s “trash” into tomorrow’s value stream. At our Galway, Ireland manufacturing facility, we’re proving that the goal to send zero waste to landfill is possible at an industrial scale.

How circularity is delivering greener outcomes for the Emerald Isle

Our plant in Galway, Ireland has the capacity to manufacture over 100 Thermo King cold chain refrigeration units every day. A decade ago, the site sent upwards of 20 tons of waste to landfill each year. But in 2014, a cross-functional team set an ambitious target: to become Trane Technologies’ first zero-waste-to-landfill facility. 

The plant is located between two residential neighborhoods near the beautiful Galway Bay, and the team needed to take a local approach to prioritize the community and minimize land degradation and air pollution.

They began by exploring every waste stream to identify how to capture its inherent value. Plastics, metals, cardboard, timber and other components are separated and collected by employees in every production area. Collaboration was also critical — the team engaged with regional partners to create innovative recycling alternatives for the generated waste. 

Transparency is built into each stage of the reverse logistics ecosystem: every ounce of material that leaves the facility is collected, weighed and traced to its final destination. Leadership reviews monthly sustainability reporting, which includes waste management, and conducts regular audits to ensure long-term improvements.

This strategic system ensures that no material goes to waste. Scrap metals are reclaimed by a local recycler and processed into new raw materials, while non-reusable timber becomes garden mulch. Cardboard and paper are recycled for new packaging, and the minimal remaining materials are used to generate energy at a cement manufacturer — avoiding landfill entirely. 

Why collaboration across the supply chain matters

More progress came when the team looked beyond the factory walls. Working with suppliers in multiple countries, the team reconceptualized standard packaging and shipping materials. The collaborations helped shift from single-use timber pallets and cardboard boxes to reusable crates and corrugated boxes that move between the factory and suppliers, a sustainable innovation in an effective reverse-logistics supply chain.